Artist's Comments: This comic was completed on my flight to Houston. It was a bit of an experience trying to draw the last bits while fighting the turbulence, and making all the rum gone (yeah - we have tickets for the iMax opening tomorrow - w00t!). The original had called for the view to be on an angle to Nerdygirl's head. After completing the panel sketch I realized that the view would distort the shrine image, and produce very strange text placement options. So I redesigned the layout for a flat-back view. All in all I'm happy with how this turned out, especially the candles - they are very hard to make look just so...

Reverend's Comments:With this comic, I wanted to give you all a glimpse of Nerdygirl's inner workings... without the use of a speculum. I think the fact that she maintains a shrine to a dead comedian does that better than all the expository dialog I could possibly construct. The opportunity to simultaneously hack on Christians was just a pleasant serendipity.

Raksha was the first to introduce me to Bill Hicks, or as we call him around the Black Vatican, "St. Bill." He was funny, but more than that - he spoke the truth in a way that only a guy with a terminal disease can (he died young, of pancreatic cancer). I share the Unbeliever's love of his work, but not her dedication. She can quote him at length, while I can only produce the following:

"For me to settle down, it would take one very special woman... or, several average ones."

Nerdygirl's (much more explanatory) comments, including links to some of St. Bill's performances, can be found here.

"See, I think drugs have done some *good* things for us, I really do. And if you don’t believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a Favor: go home tonight and take all your albums, all your tapes, and all your cd’s and burn em’. 'Cause you know what? The musicians who’ve made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years...Rrrrrrrrrrrrreal ------ high on drugs."--Bill Hicks